New 36-Team League Format
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League season kicks off September 8 with a 36-team league phase.
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Key Points
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The 2026/27 competition is the Champions League’s 72nd season overall, its 35th under the current name and the third edition using the league-phase format.
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UEFA said the listed league-phase clubs are provisional because final admission remains subject to sporting, disciplinary and licensing considerations; Russian clubs remain suspended from UEFA competitions until further notice.
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The Madrid final will be the city’s sixth Champions League final, and the second staged at Atlético de Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano. Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 at the stadium in the 2019 final.
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Most league-phase matches are scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time, while selected fixtures have an earlier 18:45 kickoff, including AEK Athens-LASK and Club Brugge-Aston Villa on the opening day.
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The winner will receive the competition trophy, which UEFA describes as standing 73.5 centimeters tall and weighing 7.5 kilograms, in addition to the qualification benefits outlined for the following season.
The 2026/27 Champions League kicks off September 8, 2026, with a bold new format: 36 teams competing in one single league table instead of separate groups UEFA. Each club plays eight matches—four home, four away—running through January 27, 2027, before knockout rounds begin. The final takes place June 5, 2027, at Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano.
Opening-round fixtures include Real Madrid vs. Inter, Manchester City at Porto, and Liverpool facing Atlético de Madrid UEFA. Barcelona takes on Paris Saint-Germain in another marquee matchup. The winner qualifies for the 2027/28 league phase and the 2027 UEFA Super Cup.
League Phase Replaces Traditional Group Stage
For the third straight season, the Champions League ditches four-team groups for a unified 36-team league UEFA. Every club faces eight opponents across the 19-week phase. Top finishers advance directly to knockout rounds. Lower-ranked teams compete in play-in matches. This format compresses the competition while guaranteeing every team more meaningful fixtures.
Madrid Hosts Second Final at Atlético Stadium
The Estadio Metropolitano will host its second Champions League final on June 5, 2027 UEFA. Madrid has staged five Champions League finals total, with Liverpool beating Tottenham 2-0 at this same venue in 2019. The trophy stands 73.5 centimeters tall and weighs 7.5 kilograms.
Provisional Team List Subject to Regulatory Review
UEFA notes that all 36 teams remain provisional pending final sporting, disciplinary, and licensing approvals UEFA. Russian clubs stay suspended from UEFA competitions until further notice. Clubs must meet financial and administrative standards before official confirmation. Final rosters could shift before September 2026.
Most Matches Kick Off at 9 p.m. Central Time
The league phase schedules most fixtures for 21:00 Central European Time to maximize TV audiences UEFA. Select matches move to 18:45, including AEK Athens vs. LASK and Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa on opening night. Staggered kickoffs prevent simultaneous matches that could affect competition integrity.
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